After we met up with Blue and Niko at a nearby park, we changed vehicles and left Christian’s car behind. The van had more room and privacy.
When Blue banged into the curb, I gripped the bench in the back of the dark van.
“Sorry,” she said. “I can’t see where the road ends and the sidewalk begins.”
Christian gestured to the duffel bag of weapons. “Did you really need to buy those knives? We have more than enough.”
“If the van broke down and we had to go separately, they would have come in handy. Besides, I like this little black one.” I slipped it inside my pocket and looked toward the front. “Did Mr. X say anything else?”
Niko shifted around in the passenger seat. “Blue was monitoring the chat room when he contacted her. We called Wyatt, and he came right away.”
“Half naked,” Blue added. “Wearing those ridiculous hamburger slippers.”
“Mr. X only gave us a location,” Niko continued, obviously troubled by it. “I don’t trust anonymous tipsters.”
“It worked out the last time.” I cringed when we hit the curb again.
Christian rested his arms on his knees. “Careful not to strike a hydrant, or we’ll never get there.”
“File a complaint,” she fired back. “They didn’t plow all the roads, so I can’t see the curb when I turn.”
“Are you sure our target’s the Mage?” I asked, strapping a stunner to the belt on my jeans.
Niko turned in his seat again. “According to what we know. Mr. X said it was the third man in the picture—the Asian. Viktor isn’t certain his name is Li Han, but he’s sure about his Breed. Would you like me to turn up the heat?”
Blue looked at him. “Please don’t. You’re already pumping out enough heat to start a fire. Maybe you could stand outside and melt the snow, amigo.”
Niko chuckled softly.
I pulled at the fabric on my fingerless glove before tucking it tighter between each finger.
“What’s the matter?” Christian asked.
I swung my gaze up. “Viktor doesn’t want witnesses, and if we can’t lock this guy in somewhere, his goons might escape. Do we go after them first or the target?”
Christian leaned back and stared off. “This is one where we’ll have to think on our feet.”
“At least he won’t be able to flash as quickly,” Blue remarked.
No doubt. The streets would make it difficult for any great escape. That said, the subway was still operating.
“What if he’s a Jumper?” I asked, hoping like hell he wasn’t. Jumpers could move vertically or horizontally for short distances.
“Then may the fates give us good aim.” She stopped the van and turned off the engine. “This is it.”
We all got out and gathered at the back of the van.
Blue strapped a blade to her calf. “Here’s what we know about this place: Wyatt did some fast research and found out it belongs to an antique dealer.”
I glanced around, uncertain which building she was talking about. I remembered a previous job I was on and how they’d hoarded the objects on several floors. “Which one?”
She tucked her ungloved hands beneath the armpits of her puffy coat. “Across the street. The one with all the lights on.”
We casually peered around the van at the three-story building.
“Any blueprints?” Christian stroked his beard, his frosty breath clouding the air in front of him.
“Didn’t have time,” Blue informed him. “Not sure it would matter since we don’t know where they are or how many there are—we just need to get in.”
